Strip trimmer



- Patented Jan. 19, 1943 STRIP TRIMMER John Quirk Sherman, deceased, late of Dayton, Ohio, by Katherine M. Sherman, William C. Sherman, and Wellmore B. Turner, executors,

Dayton, Ohio I Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,544

16 Claims.

The invention pertains to paper trimming device, and more particularly to a severing means for removing from continuous record strips or individual sheets marginally punched margins thereof.

While for illustrative purposes the invention is herein shown as applied to a conventional typewriter, it is to be understood that it is equally applicable to other forms of imprinting apparatus, tabulating machines, strip separating apparatus and form bursting mechanism by which strips are divided into individual sheets.

Marginal perforations or punchings are provided in continuous record and data sheets for feeding and registering purposes. After havin performed this function. such marginally punched holes have no further use, and may be removed. By some persons such marginal holes are deemed unsightly. In other instances, to meet handling or filing conditions, it may be desirable to somewhat reduce the original size of the record material.

The present trimming unit is for the. purpose of progressively removing such punched margins simultaneously with the advancement of the strip or record sheet through the mechanism or apparatus, or past an operating position, the particular character of which is immaterial.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of strip trimming devices whereby they may not only be economically manufactured, but will be efficient in use, automatic in action, uni form in operation, having relatively few parts and be unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strip trimming device which will cooperate with strip feeding means to synchronize the severance of the strip with its advancement past an operating position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strip trimming unit of compact form which may be readily applied to existing writing, imprinting and other strip treating machines and .which may be conveniently incorporated in new machines.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strip trimming device having the advantageous structural features and inherent meritorious char acteristics herein mentioned.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations therecal of, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents. as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a conventional typewriter to which the present invention has been applied. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the platen roll of a typewriter and associated parts including the present strip severing means. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a packet of record material showing the marginal punched areas to be severed therefrom. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a conventional writing or imprinting machine platen and associated strip severing means, the platen being shown in section to illustrate the operation of the particular strip feeding means shownin Figs. 1 and 2.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

The present severing device is applicable to different forms of apparatus wherein a continuous strip of material is progressively advanced past an operating position, and is for the purpose of removing from the strip continuous marginal areas upon longitudinal division lines which may or may not be preweakened.

In the drawing, l indicates a conventional form of typewriter, of which 2 is the rotary platen, about which superposedcontinuous strips 3 of record material are advanced into and past writing position.

The record material is drawn from a packet 4 in a holder 5 at the back of the typewriter, over a guide rod 6 and thence over the conventional paper guide plate 1 to the platen roll.

In the present instance the platen 2 is shown equippedwith a series of radially disposed reciprocatory feeding pins 9, which engage in marginally punched holes ill in the record material 3.

The retractable and extensible feeding pin arrangement forms no part, per se, of the present invention, but is that disclosed and claimed in Reissue Patent No. 20,888. Briefly stated, the construction is such that as the platen roll 2 rotates the pins 9 are caused to travel about a stationary cam 8 by which they are progressively projected beyond the periphery'of the platen roll into engagement in the holes l0 of the strip. Upon further rotation of the platen roll, the extended pins are retracted and succeeding pins extended. However, the present strip trimming means is in no way dependent upon the particular feedin means. It is usable with conventional frictional record material feeding means. A pair of frictional pressure rollers I2 for cooperation with the platen roll are shown in Figs. 2 and 4, in which event the main portion of the strip is advanced by the friction rolls I2, and the margins thereof are divergently advanced by the auxiliary rollers The continuous record strips to be trimmed, whether positively fed by pin type feeding means or frictionally fed by conventional frictional pressure rollers, are preferably, although not necessarily, longitudinally scored or weakened on a line I3 in parallel spaced relation with the margin of the strip and upon which line the strip is to be severed.

Extending in upwardly and rearwardly inclined relation from the front of the platen roll 2 is a guide plate I I, the length of which agrees with the width to which the strip 3 is to be reduced. The terminal ends of the plate II serve asshear edges against which the margins of the strip are severed from the main portion thereof. After passing about the platen roll and past the writing position, the strips 3 are directed upwardly away from the platen roll 2 over the guide plate II, beyond the terminal edges of which the lateral margins of the strip extend.

Located somewhat to the rear of the platen roll and below the plane of the guide plate I I are pairs of coacting pinch rollers I4, which are mounted in supporting brackets I5 and interconnected for unison rotation by intermeshing gear pinions I6. The roller pinions I6 are driven by an idler gear H from a larger gear I'l' connected to and rotating in unison with the platen roll 2. The rollers I4 engage the marginal portions I9 of the strip 3 and feed such marginal portions through paths divergent to that of the main portion of the strip as determined by the inclined guide plate I I. As result of the divergent movement of the respective portions of the strip and the pulling of the marginal areas I9 downwardly past the ends of the plate II as the strips advance, the. strips are severed along the lines I3, in much the same manner that one might tear a sheet of paper over a straight-edge by holding one portion on the straight-edge and pulling the other portion progressively past such edge.

If the strips have been previously weakened or scored on the division lines I3, the pulling strain of the rollers I4 serves to break the weakened line over the terminal edge of the plate II in unison with the advancement of the strip. If the strips have not been previously scored or weakened along the division line I3, the pull of the rollers I 4 will nevertheless sever or tear the strips along such line of severance coincident with the terminal edges of the plate II as the strips progress over such plate.

Obviously, by shortening the plate II and lengthening the rollers I4, which if desired may extend entirely across the machine coextensively with and parallel to the platen roll, the strip may be divided on any selected longitudinal line by directing the respective portions of the strips in divergent directions past the correspondingly positioned end of the plate II, which thus serves as a shear plate.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a modification of the trimmer means before described, wherein in lieu of the gear driven pinch rollers II there is provided a spring pressed friction roller 20, journaled for vertical yielding movement against the resistance of a spring 22 in a bracket 2| depending from the guide and shear plate I I. The roller 20 coacts with the platen roll 2 to engage and feed the marginal portions IQ of the strips rearwardly over the top of the platen roll, divergently relative to the main body of the strips passing over the plate II. Like the rollers it before described, the pulling efi'ort exerted upon the margin of the strip in a direction divergent to that of the main portion of the strip passing over the guide plate II serves to sever the strip along the lines I3, whether such division lines be previously weakened or not. The performance and result of the traction of the roller 20 upon the marginal 'portion of the strip is substantially like that of the rollers I4 and serves to longitudinally sever the strip or strips on a predetermined line, coincident'with the terminal edge of the plate I I. By disposing the plate II and roller'ZII in different positions axially of the platen roll to present its terminal edge coincident with the line of division, the strip may be divided on different longitudinal lines.

The leading edge of each packet of superposed strips of record material must be intially separated along the division line I3 a distance suflicient to enable the engagement of the marginal portions I9 of the strip 3 within the pinch rollers I4. If the strips have not been previously weakened along the division line I3, this initial cut is made with scissors or the like.

Although for illustrative purpose the invention has been shown and described in its relation to a conventional typewriter, it is to be understood that the trimming means shown is equally applicable to various other forms of imprinting and record making, tabulating, and addressing machines for longitudinally dividing the record material, and may be added to or incorporated in strip separating or sorting apparatus by which superposed strips are separated, or may be utilized in association with form bursting mechanism by which the continuous strip is divided transversely into individual sheets.

Likewise, while removal of margins from continuous strips of record material has been shown and described, the trimming means is likewise operable upon individual sheets of various lengths and upon either sheets or strips of difierent widths.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification 'in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed 1. In an apparatus wherein a continuous strip of material from which a marginal portion is to be trimmed is progressively advanced past a trimming position, a pair of coacting rollers having progressive engagement with the margin of the advancing strip, a guide plate over which the main body of the strip is directed of less width than the strip, having its lateral edge disposed substantially coincident with the line of severance'of the strip, and beyond which the marginal area'to be removed extends, the rollers and the guide plate operating to guide the main body of the strip and the marginal area thereof in divergent paths whereby the said portions will be divided coincident with the edge of the guide plate. 7

2. In a strip severing apparatus, a feed roller about which a continuous strip of material'to be severed is advanced, a roller coacting therewith, the feed roller to continue the advancement of a portion of the strip coincident with the surface of the roller, and guide means for diverting another portion of the strip away from the roller in a path of travel divergent to that of the first portion, the simultaneous advancement of contiguous portions of the strip through divergent paths serving to sever said portions one from the other.

3. In a strip severing apparatus, a feed roller about which a strip of material to be divided is progressively advanced, a straight edge extending beyond the feed roller in substantially tangential relation thereto, along which a portion of the strip is advanced, a roller cooperating with the feed roller in ofiset relation with the straight edge for confining a portion of the strip extending laterally beyond the straight edge to a path coincident with the surface of the feed roller, the divergence of the parts of the respective portions of the strip being operative to divide the strip on a line coincident with the straight edge.

4 In a writing or imprinting apparatus, a platen roll about which a continuous strip of material is advanced past a legend receiving position, a guide plate of less width than the strip extending in tangential relation beyond the platen roll over which a portion of the strip is diverted, a roller cooperating with the platen roll beyond the point of tangency of the plate and laterally offset relative thereto, confining another portion of the strip to a path coincident with the surface of the roller, the construction and arrangement being such that the divergence of the path of travel of the respective portions of the strips causes their severance on a longitudinal line.

5. In a strip dividing apparatus, means for pro gressively advancing a continuous strip of material past a severance point, a straight edge along which one portion of the strip is advanced, and auxiliary feeding means for advancing another portion of the strip pastthe straight edge in a path divergent thereto, the arrangement bein such that the strip is longitudinally divided on a line substantially coincident with the straight edge.

6. In a strip severing device. a plate of less width than the strip having a straight edge, beyond which one margin of the strip extends, dual feeding means for advancing one portion of the strip over the plate and along the straight edge and for advancing another portion of the strip past the straight edge in a path divergent thereto, the arrangement being such that the strip is severed substantially coincident with the straight edge coincident with its advancement.

'7. The herein described method of longitudinally dividing a continuous strip of material, consisting in providing a straight edge in a plane parallel to that of the strip and aligned with the line of severance of the strip, and simultaneously advancing one portion of the strip over the straight edge and advancing another portion of the strip transversely of the straight edge in depressed divergent relation therewith.

8. In a strip severing apparatus, a feed roll about which a continuous strip of material is advanced, a guide plate disposed in substantially tangential relation with the feed roll over which a portion of the strip is advanced and the edge of which is disposed coincident with the line of severance of the strip and beyond the edge of which a portion of the strip extends, and means for depressing the extending portion of the strip past the edge of the guide plate in divergent relation therewith while advancing such portion with that advanced over the guide plate to effect severance coincident with the edge of the plate.

9. In a strip severing device, a plate parallel to the plane of advancement of the strip over which a portion of the strip is progressively advanced, including a straight edge disposed coincident with the line of severance of the strip, and beyond which a lateral portion of the strip extends, and guide means for diverting, the laterally extending portion of the strip transversely of the edge of said plate in a direction divergent to the plane thereof simultaneously with the advancement of the remainder of the strip over said plate.

10. In a strip severing device, dual frictional feeding means for a continuous strip of material to be longitudinally divided, positioned and arranged to direct contiguous portions of the strip simultaneously in intersecting divergent planes, and guide means for the respective portions, including a straight edge defining the line of severance between said portions.

11. In a strip severing. device for severing a con tinuous strip of material on a longitudinal line, a severing device positioned in the path of advancement of the strip substantially coincident with the line of division thereof past which the strip is progressively advanced, and feeding means engaging a portion of the strip at one side of the line of division and additional feeding means simultaneously advancing the portion of the strip at the opposite side of the line of division, the respective feeding devices being simultaneously operative to advance the respective portions of the strip in divergent paths of travel.

12. In a strip severing device for severing a continuous strip of material on a longitudinal line, a severing device positioned in the path of advancement of the strip substantially coincident with the line of division thereof past which the strip is progressively advanced, and separate feeding devices simultaneously advancing the portions of the strip on opposite sides of the severing device through divergent paths.

13. In a strip severing device for severing a continuous strip of material on a longitudinal line, a

- severing device positioned in the path of advance ment of the strip substantially coincident with the line of division thereof past which the strip is progressively advanced, and plural feeding devices engageable therewith and operative to simultaneously advance the separated portions thereof through different paths.

14. In a strip severing device, wherein a continuous strip of material is progressively divided on a preweakened longitudinal division line, plural feeding devices, at least one of which is engageable with one divisible portion of the strip independently of the other portion thereof, and

conjointly operative to advance both portions of the strip past a division point.

15. In a strip severing device, wherein a continuous strip oi material is progressively divided on a longitudinal division line. a severing device relative to which the strip is advanced, and plural ieeding devices for advancing the strip, at least one of'which is engageable with one divisible portion of the strip independently of the other portion thereof, and conjointlg operative to advance both portions or the strip past the severing device.

16. A recording machine wherein a continuous strip of marginally punched series connected detachable form stationary having a preweakened longitudinal division line separating the marginally punched area from the remainder of the strip, is advanced past a recording position, a strip severing device for severing the continuous strip of material on the preweakened longitudinal division line, including plural feeding devices for simultaneously advancing the portions of the strip at opposite sides of the longitudinal preweakened line of division through divergent paths of travel.

Executor: of the Estate of John Q. Sherman,

Deceased.

- CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION. Patent Nb. 2,508,551. im ni- 19-, 19M.

JOHN qvm: 811mm. i It is hereby certified that error appears in the piinted apecificaltion of the above numbered-patent requiring correction as ro ilowaz Page 5, sec- 0nd column, line 18, claim 8, aften'geverance" insert --of the strip--; and that: the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case ihthe Patent Office.

Signed-and sealed this 161m day of Harchyii. p. 1915.

Henry' Van A rsdale, Acting Commissioner of Patents'. 

